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Supply Chain Talent Squeeze: How Businesses and Universities are Collaborating to Fill the Gap

The talent squeeze is real. The number of jobs is expected to grow by more than 20 percent by 2022 while Baby Boomer retirement continues to deplete the ranks of experienced supply chain professionals. Some observers believe the demand for supply chain professionals might now exceed supply by a six-to-one ratio. But the picture is brighter than it might appear. One ray of hope: The efforts of business and academic leaders to attract and develop potential supply chain leaders.

By Mary Holcomb, Allan Krul, and Douglas Thomas ·
July 1, 2015

Undersupply of supply chain management (SCM) talent has long bedeviled businesses. Since before the turn of the 21st century, a conflagration of forces have conspired to keep supply chain leaders scrambling for the people they need, including globalization, ceaseless technology development, and a perceived lack of cachet and opportunity in the nuts-and-bolts business of logistics.

The problem could well worsen over the next several years. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects logistics job growth of 22 percent from 2012-2022, more than double the average rate of the 30 highest growth occupations. Meanwhile, Baby Boomer retirement continues to deplete the ranks of experienced supply chain professionals. Some observers believe the demand for supply chain professionals might now exceed supply by a six-to-one ratio.

The talent squeeze comes as supply chain leaders face dramatically expanding responsibilities. Many are now charged with overseeing the full span of logistical activities from sourcing to production planning to delivery and service.

Undersupply of supply chain management (SCM) talent has long bedeviled businesses. Since before the turn of the 21st century, a conflagration of forces have conspired to keep supply chain leaders scrambling for the people they need, including globalization, ceaseless technology development, and a perceived lack of cachet and opportunity in the nuts-and-bolts business of logistics.

The problem could well worsen over the next several years. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects logistics job growth of 22 percent from 2012-2022, more than double the average rate of the 30 highest growth occupations. Meanwhile, Baby Boomer retirement continues to deplete the ranks of experienced supply chain professionals. Some observers believe the demand for supply chain professionals might now exceed supply by a six-to-one ratio.

The talent squeeze comes as supply chain leaders face dramatically expanding responsibilities. Many are now charged with overseeing the full span of logistical activities from sourcing to production planning to delivery and service.

If history is our guide, economies take a turn every nine years. Yet time and again, a strong business cycle and fading memories convince us the good times will go on forever. Ten years after the great recession, we surveyed 100 manufacturing firms to find out if businesses are ready to fight through the next recession.

Is Digital Transformation a risk or an opportunity? This webinar will detail Manufacturing industry challenges and how using IoT can address these challenges through optimizing logistics, improving processes and gaining meaningful insights.